I am new to this forum, and have decided that I would like to get a basenji, prefferably male. I have never owned one before and my parents own a bernese mountain dog mix. I would only be living with them for about 2 months, and cannot get the dog until June, but would like to get a puppy (if possible).
I was wondering what I should look into in a new dog, what I should bring with me/ask for from the breeder.
I know Annandael in Colorado has a waiting list for this next year. Send her a private message.
Also consider BRAT. They have some great Basenji's that need homes. Really research this breed. They are not like any other dog. Get to know your breeder and spend sometime with Basenji's to really get to know how they are.
Good Luck and keep us posted
try Laurie Stargell in Windsor CO…..
basenji puppies are born in the winter, so in june they will be an avg of 6 months old (if there are any left!)
really carefully bred pups sell like hot cakes.
in the meantime soak up as much info about the breed as possible!
Good points… this is the time to research the breed, find local responsible breeders, visit with them.... learn about the breed... go to the Basenji Club of America website and you can find a listing of breeders. Also you can find on the "Is a Basenji right for me?"... section lots of information about Basenjis including questions you should be asking your breeder. Take your time.. learn about the breed, the health concerns, etc.... and then find yourself a responsible breeder and get on their reservation list for a pup that they are planning for this Fall.
I do know of one breader who still has a puppy left from December. I was wondering if 6 months is too old to be getting a new puppy, are they already set in their ways or willing to change?
also, if it does get around to that, what kinds of things should I look for. Tempermant, size (mostly weight), registration, health/vaccination certificates?
I do know of one breader who still has a puppy left from December. I was wondering if 6 months is too old to be getting a new puppy, are they already set in their ways or willing to change?
also, if it does get around to that, what kinds of things should I look for. Tempermant, size (mostly weight), registration, health/vaccination certificates?
Six months may be fine…but it really depends on what the breeder has been doing with the pup during that time. If the puppy has just sat in a crate, waiting to be purchased...NO...you don't want that puppy. But if the breeder has been what we call 'growing the puppy out' to see if it has show potential...and the breeder has been making sure the puppy is learning house manners, and being socialized to different people, and different situations, then that can be a really great opportunity for puppy buyers. And, don't just take someone's word that they are doing all of the above...go see the breeder, the puppy, the parents, the set up..and if it seems at all fishy, assume the worst. It might be hard to walk away from a pup in a bad situation..but you will be the one to pay for it later....just read some of the threads here....
When you are picking out a puppy, you want to look for the following:
A breeder who you feel very comfortable with...including how the dogs are kept, how the dogs are treated, you need to trust the breeder. The breeder should ask you a lot of questions, and be happy to answer yours. He or she should make it VERY clear that they will be keeping in contact with you throughout the pup's life, and will happily take the pup back if for whatever reason you can't keep it. A good breeder will have a contract for you to sign, that protects you, the puppy, and the breeder.
Temperament: The dogs and puppies should be friendly and interested in visiting with you, sniffing you, going thru your pockets and purses. Most good breeders will pick a pup out for you, because they know the pups the best. But if you are in the situation where you pick one out, it is always wise to pick one that is not the MOST out going, or the least...somewhere in the middle is usually the best pet. You should be allowed to meet the mother...but often the father doesn't live with the breeder. The breeder should explain to you that basenjis are different, and don't respond well to "traditional" training methods...but do wonderfully well with positive reinforcement training, and some breeders will suggest you take your pup to kindergarten.
Size is fairly irrelevant...there are some larger than average basenjis, and some smaller, but they are all roughly the same size. The size won't effect the quality of pet you desire.
Registration, ideally AKC; UKC is the only other US registry that I would consider reputable. When you purchase the puppy, you should receive the paperwork to register with the AKC. Sometimes the breeder will fill it out with you and send it in. But the paperworks SHOULD go with the puppy. Most people purchase a puppy as a pet, and the breeder will mark the LIMITED registration box...with the intention that this pup is not to be bred from. If someone tries to later register pups from that dog, AKC will refuse the registration.
Health and Vaccines: Your breeder should have covered all the possible concerns regarding genetically inhertited diseases that may occur in the pups. Very few genetic diseases in Basenjis have a definitive yes or no test right now, so breeders have to do their best guess as to reducing the chance of passing on genetic disease. A breeder should be able to tell you the last time they test stripped all breeding stock for Fanconi...should be within the last month. She should be able to show you the most recent eye exam paperwork done by a vet. ophthomologist, and she should be able to show you evidence that the parents were both screened for Canine Hip Dysplasia.
The puppies should look healthy (obviously!). Vaccine schedules vary some between breeders....most pups get their first DHLPP between 6-8 weeks. And they should have been wormed at least once during that time.
So I think that REALLY lengthy post covers it...I am sure other people will put in a few more cents that I forgot.
I'm not sure if the breeder i have been in contact with is on here. He is from Cripple Creek, CO and posts his litters on puppyfind.com and the local newspaper. I do have another dog that will be with me until the end of July, so i was thinking i would try to meet with my dog and then later (if all is well) meet without him and then get the dog if all is still well.
The breeder did say that the dog is now house trained so that helps me believe to begin with that he has been raising the dog rather than leaving it in a crate all day.
Is this breeder a member of the local Basenji club in Co? Is he a member of The Basenji Club of America?… these are two things that I think are important when looking for a responsible breeder. Also, does he show or do performance events with his Basenjis? Did he give you a pedigree? Has the sire and dam been health tested?.... Hips, Eyes, Thyroid, etc....
And I am not sure that just because they said he was house trained that he was raised in the house? Not without seeing the situation....
Also, just for what it is worth, I am NOT a big fan of people that advertise in Puppyfind.com or in the local newspaper... in our area that just screams BYB
Thank you all for your replies. If i do get a dog, rest assured there will be nice photos on here for all to see.
I'm not sure if the breeder i have been in contact with is on here. He is from Cripple Creek, CO and posts his litters on puppyfind.com and the local newspaper. I do have another dog that will be with me until the end of July, so i was thinking i would try to meet with my dog and then later (if all is well) meet without him and then get the dog if all is still well.
The breeder did say that the dog is now house trained so that helps me believe to begin with that he has been raising the dog rather than leaving it in a crate all day.
House trained is not the same as being well socialized…and of course the breeder is going to tell you he is house trained if he wants to sell you the dog....who would buy a six month old dog that wasn't house trained?
etzbseder
i sent you a private messege (warning) about cripple creek
no responsible breeder has 60 puppies a year
By chance do any of you know of any reputable breeders in CO or WY that have any puppies left from dec?
Here is a link to the BCOA breeder directory, http://www.basenji.org/?q=node/30
Also, just because a breeder does not have any puppies available at this time does not mean they do not have a young adult that is looking for the right home. Alot of times these are retired show dogs or a puppy that didn't turn out quite as expected. They are past the puppy destructiveness and already housetrained and well socialized. I would recommend talking with some of the breeders in the directory and also making an appointment to just come and visit with their dogs. See what they are like and get an idea about what basenjis from different families are like.
etzbseder
Have you contacted anyone?? Your getting a lot of advice, but you keep asking the same thing over and over…...:)
I'm waiting on a second email from the guy from cripple creek from yesterday, and I have sent emails to all 3 CO breeders from the basenji club of america (i think that's where i found them). but i've owned a couple dogs before, and a basenji is not quite the same as any of them. (2 huskies and a bernese mountain dog mix).
I do find myself repetitive, but i try not to do it if i can help it.
I agree with Ambered….60 puppies a year!!!! warning! warning!:eek:
